Too Young to walk?

wrigleybaby · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject: Too Young to walk?

First, I have to say I love this website. We brought Wrigley home back in the middle of September and all of your discussions have helped us out so much already. I am so thankful to have found this website!
So my question is, when is old enough to start going on walks? I know I need to wait till his bones have matured before I take him on runs. Wrigley is just over 3 months old and has TONS of energy. He seems to really enjoy walking (pulling me) around the neighborhood, but I don't want to be doing damage to his young bones. How long and how often can you walk a puppy?

jamie8dc · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:31 am Post subject:

From what I understand it's just forced running and jogging, especially on concrete, that you should avoid. If at all possible it'd be better to have him walk on grass or something soft but I don't think walking a 3-month old on the sidewalk is bad for him. Maybe for a ridiculous amount of time in one sitting, but nothing that's not unreasonable.

I've never owned a dog as big as a Weim, but close, but this is my understanding of it.

They say 18-24 months before you make him your jogging partner. I think the concrete part makes a big difference though, so maybe walk him around a park or somewhere with a lot of flat grass if you're concerned.

I plan on walking my puppy around Texas A&M campus once he has his shots, great way to socialize (hundreds of students stopping to say AWWWW!) and excercise at the same time. And that's mostly concrete.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

peppernaei · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:49 am Post subject:

my vet suggested no more than 20 minutes on the sidewalk or other hard surfaces a couples times a day. to use up excess energy she suggested grassy areas and we stayed out as longer and longer as his energy allowed. at 5 months i am still cautious at the dog park that he doesn't overdo it so we usually don't stay longer than an hour if there is heavy play. this is just what i have been doing and he is my first weim.

wrigleys · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 3:58 pm Post subject:

That is so funny my weim is named wrigley too...the first one i have seen here...i gues i have been doing thigns wrong though b/c i walk wrigley a lot...he likes it and if i don't he really has a hard time sleeping...but most recently i started running intervals with him...perhaps i will cut back on that....have raising your boy...i know ours has been an adventure so far...

jamie8dc · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

You can run with him for reasonable amounts of time, just stay off hard surfaces like concrete.